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Stop fake bearings

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Product piracy hurts

4.2

trillion


US$ drained from the global economy

5.4

million


jobs worldwide at risk

39

percent


of fakes posed danger to lives

We help to identify counterfeit products

Don’t let fake bearings break your business. If you suspect that you may have purchased or distributed counterfeits, contact the World Bearing Association (WBA) immediately.

Together, we can find a way to avert greater damage to you and your customers. All our members have specialists on board, who can help you reliably recognize counterfeits, reduce the legal consequences and finally eliminate the fake products.

Our advice:

  • Don’t try to identify fake bearings on your own

  • Contact the premium brand manufacturer instead

  • Take photos and gather information of suspected counterfeit products

  • Don’t contact those who might be involved in illegal counterfeiting activities

  • The best way to safeguard authenticity is to buy from trusted sources

Detect fake bearings:

Be aware of product piracy

Sometimes they are badly refurbished originals no longer meeting quality standards, sometimes they are just fake. Tons of low-quality bearings are labeled with false brand markings to justify a higher price. They look like, and are marketed as, genuine, premium brand products. Even the packaging is skillfully imitated. So let’s face it: fake bearings are difficult to detect. They won’t be scratched, rusty or dirty. They won’t necessarily even be cheaper. But still, beware of those “too good to be true” prices that are below market value and have unusual availability.

One effective way to identify counterfeit bearings with certainty is with the help of premium brand manufacturers. Companies participating in the WBA assist you and local law enforcement with information and identification of counterfeits, to help find and prosecute counterfeiters.

And please keep in mind: All suspicious activities need to be communicated first to the premium brand manufacturer and the authorities before you contact your distributor or supplier. Sharing suspicions with them may lead to destruction of evidence and hiding of information, putting investigations at risk.

New: Check for counterfeits with the WBA app

Recognize fake bearings in just seconds

Fake bearings are a threat to the safety of both people and equipment. They are the cause of costly downtimes and repairs; destroying productivity and incurring huge expenses. The “Stop Fake Bearings” initiative of the World Bearing Association (WBA) helps you recognize fake bearings thus helping you to protect your employees, your equipment and your reputation.

An app for revealing fakes

It isn’t easy to spot fake bearings. They can look like original products and their packaging is often an exact copy. But there is now a way to easily perform a quick initial check: The WBA Check app is recommended by leading international manufacturers such as JTEKT (Koyo), NACHI, NTN, NSK, Schaeffler (INA/FAG), SKF, and Timken.

Download the WBA app now.

The QR codes take you to the App Stores where you can download the WBA app at no cost.

Activate the app, and scan the code on the bearing’s packaging. You’ll get a response from the app immediately showing one of these icons:

The code is correct and is contained in the manufacturer’s database.

Caution: the code is known but has been scanned numerous times. To be on the safe side, follow the manufacturer’s recommendation in the response.

Warning: this is an unknown code. The bearing is a suspected fake and must not be used under any circumstances without confirming with the manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation in the response.

No code on the product?

This is an older product or that the product doesn’t have a code yet. Contact the manufacturer if you have any doubts about the product’s authenticity.

And remember: only buy your bearings from trusted sources!

Protect yourself:

Don’t let illegal trade break your business

When you decide to buy brand premium products, you have high expectations for quality, durability and dependability. But when you pay for premium and get average, or even downright faulty or old refurbished products, you’re not getting what you paid for. And fake bearings not only harm your finances but they can also pose danger to operations and human lives.

In addition, a faulty, counterfeit bearing has legal consequences for you as a buyer and/or distributor. Counterfeiting is a crime in many countries, plain and simple. It not only puts lives and property at risk, but also means theft of intellectual property, such as patents and trademarks, and reputation. These are crucial concepts in modern economy, enabling growth based on good ideas and innovations.

The best way to protect yourself :

Always turn to trusted sources for all your bearing purchases.

Danger to operations

Fake bearings can degrade and fail quickly. At best, this will only lead to equipment downtime and repair.

Lives at risk

Imagine fake bearings installed in hospital equipment. You see, counterfeits can not only cause shutdowns in mills and production facilities, but also serious accidents.

Criminal prosecution

Not only suspected manufacturers but also dealers can face criminal prosecution, in addition to civil litigation. When you purchase or sell fake products, you become part of the counterfeiting trade!

Buy safely:

Use trusted sources

Premium brands are subject to counterfeiting, worldwide. Everywhere. Every minute. To protect yourself, your business and the public from fake bearings, always turn to trusted sources. The WBA represents the leading global bearing companies. All our participating companies are associated with impeccable engineering and superior quality. To find a trusted partner, click on the company logos below the map to get more details on individual company initiatives.

We are there for you

The WBA and its participating companies assist local law enforcement with information and identification of counterfeits, to help find and prosecute counterfeiters. We are frequently involved in raids and investigations of suspected counterfeit operations. This helps buyers, distributors and end users.

WBA is a non-profit and unincorporated industrial association. It was founded in 2006 by three major, regional bearing associations: The American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA), the Federation of European Bearing Manufacturers’ Associations (FEBMA) and the Japan Bearing Industry Association (JBIA). All together, we promote the common, lawful interests of the world bearing industry, such as open economic engagement, sustainable development and the protection of legal rights.

Stay informed:

Read about our current initiatives

All our members work hard to keep counterfeits away from the market. On a daily basis we help identifying plagiarism, and prosecuting fake manufacturers.

JTEKT Reaffirms Its Stance Against Counterfeiters

January 3rd, 2023|

JTEKT Group has approximately 150 subsidiaries and 50,000 employees in about 30 countries and regions. JTEKT Group manufactures and sells power steering which has the largest share of the global market, other automotive parts, Bearings, and machine tools with presenting “No.1 & Only ONE – Shaping a Better Future – “ as the JTEKT GROUP VISION.

NSK’s “Stop! Fake Bearing” Animated Awareness Videos

November 3rd, 2022|

NSK produced 2 new awareness videos for the Industrial and Automotive Aftermarket customers and are primarily created for the ASEAN regions. Easy to understand and cute animated contents aimed to capture audiences' attention by communicating different scenarios of where fake bearings would be used, to explain serious consequences of counterfeit risks.

Spread the word:

Download and share this information

Awareness comes before action. Help your associates, customers and friends to protect themselves against counterfeits by letting them know about the problem.

WBA is more than happy to provide communication materials for this purpose. We are dedicated to informing about problems with counterfeiting of premium brand bearings and to assisting supplier, distributors, and supplier law enforcement agents in the identification and eradication of product piracy.

Let’s work together and take action to raise awareness and stop fake bearings. Use, save, print or send the following materials to your customers, friends and associates.

World Bearing Association (WBA)

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